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Western Fuels -Colorado <br />Attn: Ross Gubka <br />P.O. Box 628 <br />Nucla, CO 81424 <br />C-81-008 <br />New Horizon Mine <br />3/28/97 <br />Special focus inspection (partial, blasting) <br />Mitchell S. Rollings, 370, OSM <br />Ross Gubka, Western Fuels <br />Tod Lefevre, Western Fuels <br />Lance Wade, Western Fuels <br />OSM and DMG are conducting a special focus review this year of various components of the <br />blasting regulations from Colorado's approved program. The New Horizon Mine's proximity to <br />residences and other structures qualified it as a part of this review. <br />The initial part of the review consisted of placing a seismograph in the field to monitor blasting <br />from the New Horizon Mine. The company was not told about this review or that a seismograph <br />was monitoring its blasting. The seismograph was in the field from January 16 through February <br />3, 1997, at the house trailer of Ms. Betty Stephens. The trailer is about 350 feet from the closest <br />blasting. We asked Ms. Stephens general questions about her impressions of the blasting, if she <br />had any specific recollection of hard blasting, and about the company's interactions with her as a <br />nearby resident. Ms. Stephens was highly complimentary of Western Fuels' procedures, <br />notifications, and general relations with her and the community. Mr. and Ms. Stephens are not <br />employed by Western Fuels. <br />Three blasts were fired while the seismograph was in the field and only one triggered the <br />seismograph. This shot was well within compliance levels: peak air pressure - 118 dB; peak <br />particle velocity, transverse channel - 0.01 inches per second (IPS), vertical channel - 0.01 IPS, <br />and longitudinal channel - 0.03 IPS. <br />Pre-Blasting Survey Requirements <br />The mine was started during the pre-law period by Peabody Coal Company, so blasting <br />operations started at a time prior to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act's <br />requirements and subsequent regulations addressing blasting operations. <br />To meet the requirements of the pre-blast survey written notification regulations, Western Fuels <br />mailed notification of eligibility for apre-blast survey to owners of all structures within one-half <br />mile of the blasting area. Western Fuels exceeded this requirement by also having Vibratech post <br />